Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on people proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
